We have moved to a new home!

 

 

This blog has moved to its new home at www.dualcitizenship.malawiassociation.org 

 Thank You for visiting our site, we have had over 65,000 visitors since we started this site which means we are meeting our goals of taking this conversation to the grassroots and reaching all Malawians people, where ever they may be!

We will continue informing people about issues centering on dual citizenship in Malawi!   

The content and photos have been migrated to the new url. All new content will be updated on that site as well but this site will remain active until further notice but will not be updated.

It can also still be accessed as www.dualcitizenshipmalawi.org though until further notice.

 

JOINT ORGANIZATIONAL STATEMENT IN REGARDS TO DUAL CITIZENSHIP IN MALAWI

August 4th, 2016

As organizations in the Diaspora representing Malawians and friends of Malawi, we have long requested our government to enact more comprehensive, inclusive and forward-looking dual citizenship laws over the past few years. Malawian organizations in the United States are therefore speaking with one voice in support of the announcement to draft new dual citizenship legislation in Parliament by His Excellency, President Peter Mutharika.

Pursuant to the Malawi Citizenship and Immigration act of 1966, the Malawian constitution does not presently accommodate for Malawian citizens and foreign nationals of Malawian descent over 21 years of age to hold dual citizenship. Therefore, the current legislation change is not only welcome news, but a step in the right direction by the Mutharika administration on behalf of Malawians everywhere. We believe dual citizenship would be a tremendous benefit to the government and to all people of Malawian origin.  We believe such a system would provide the following advantages: 

ECONOMIC GROWTH: ​

➢ It will encourage economic investments in Malawi from Malawians abroad.

➢ It will allow an estimated $40M USD in remittances or money that the Diaspora sends annually to transfer through the formal sector, thus increasing foreign currency flow and development projects they contribute towards.

➢ It will encourage capital investments into creation of businesses that generate jobs, goods and services, thereby facilitating increasing trade between the host countries which is important in a new globalized environment.

EDUCATIONAL ADVANCEMENTS:

➢ It will provide a platform to mitigate the effects of the brain drain because those that leave seeking education will be more likely to return due to legally being allowed to seek employment.

➢ It will support Malawians that have an understanding of the culture and are returning home since they are in a unique position to exchange ideas, knowledge, expertise and training that is suitable for Malawi. 

CULTURAL PRESERVATION:

➢ It will help Malawians keep a sense of personal identity and national pride.

➢ It will promote a culture inclusive of all Malawians, thereby redefining divisions created by colonial borders.

➢ It will prevent future generations of Malawians from assimilating their host countries to the point of losing ties or linkages to Malawi.

Malawian organizations in the United States believe that dual citizenship is a right for all people of Malawian descent. As organizations, we will work tirelessly to support initiatives that will have the greatest impact to the nation and the Diaspora. We will continue advocating both the Embassy in the United States and the Malawi government to implement dual citizenship which advances Malawi’s socio-economic prosperity.  

We hope to do our part to contribute to a better, stronger, unified Malawi and think a commitment to inclusive dual citizenship laws will facilitate this in several ways. Our website, www.dualcitizenshipmalawi.org provides more information about the debate surrounding dual citizenship and its benefits. We hope that we can count on the support of our Malawian brothers and sisters in the movement towards this realization.

Yours truly, 

 

Agnes Nkhata                                                                                 Sitinga Kachipande

Chairwoman, Malawians in Texas Organization (MITO)          President, Malawi Washington Association (MWA) 

President Orders Minister of Justice to Publish Dual Citizenship Law

President Peter Mutharika has said he has ordered his Justice minister Samuel Tembenu to draft a dual citizenship legislation to allow dual citizenship. See the article below.

http://www.nyasatimes.com/malawi-dual-citizenship-president-orders-justice-minister-draft-legislation/

Mutharika Pledges Dual Citizenship, Opposition Parties Back Up Calls

Mutharika Speaks to US Diaspora. Photo Credit: M.Miunthali

This week, Malawi's headlines have been addressing the issue of Dual Citizenship that was brought up to Mutharika at his meeting with the Malawian Diaspora. Below is a compilation of some of the articles that were published:

"Mutharika Thrills Malawians Living Abroad on Dual Citizenship Pledge" - Edwin Mandowa, Malawi Voice
"Addressing Malawians in Washington DC, President Peter Mutharika told the audience that government would look into the matter of dual nationality because many Malawians who have spent many years living abroad really want to have dual citizenship"

"Mutharika Promises Dual Citizenship: Addresses Malawians in the US." Nyasatimes Reporter, Nyasatimes
"President Peter Mutharika has assured Malawians in Diaspora that their request to be allowed to hold dual citizenship would be looked into so that the National Assembly  can debate and agree on such laws. The President was speaking on Thursday when he interacted with Malawians living in the United States of America in Washington DC, a day after the close of a historic US- Africa Leaders Summit."


"Parties Back Dual Citizenship Calls" Moses Chitsulo, BNLTimes
"Some opposition parties and commentators have said President Peter Mutharika’s promise that government will review the citizenship law to facilitate a move which will see the country allowing dual citizenship is a step in the right direction. Speaking when he interacted with Malawians living in the United States last week, Mutharika said government will look into their request for the country to allow dual citizenship."

"Malawi "Dual Citizenship" Debate Opening Up" Gabriel Kolomo, Zodiak Radio

"Malawi has decided to open up and allow for more discussion around the proposal for the country to allow dual citizenship with President Peter Mutharika saying his government will review the law on this. ..The Malawi Washington Association (MWA) told President Mutharika that their desire was to see Malawi’s commitment to the Diaspora “expressed through inclusive citizenship laws that recognize and secure our contributions, investments, property and Malawian identities”.